Nevin: La Pastorella Op.21 No.6

Nevin was an American composer and pianist. He was born on November 25, 1862, at Vineacre, in Edgeworth, Pennsylvania. From a young age, he was musically inclined. He began playing the piano at the age of four and studied in Dresden under Von Böhme. In 1878, he attended Western University but that left at the end of his freshman year. Later he studied piano for two years at Boston, under B.J. Lang and composition under S. A. Emery. In 1882 Nevin moved back to Pittsburgh, where he gave lessons and saved money enough to take him to Berlin. There he spent the three follow years studying with Karl Klindworth. Nevin used to insist that a man does not become a musician by practising so many hours a day at the piano, but by absorbing influence from all the arts and all the interests of life, from architecture, painting, and even politics. In 1885, Nevin studied under Hans von Bülow that joined the best four pupils of his friend Klindworth into his art class. Nevin also performed at the unique public concert of that year, dedicated to the works of Brahms, Liszt, and Raff. Nevin returned to America in 1887 and took up his residence in Boston, where he taught and played at sporadic concerts. Klindworth said of him that he has a touch on the piano that brings tears and it is in interpretation rather than in bravura that he excels. He went to live in Florence to allow himself to focus on his work and there he composed his suite May in Tuscany Op. 21. After a year in Venice, he went to Paris for one year. Returned to America, remained there until his death. He was married to Anne Nevin with whom he had two children. He died on February 17, 1901, in New Haven, Connecticut.

Thank you and good listening!

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